Back in December, I made some predictions as
to how the 2012 golfing calendar might pan out for the majors, Ryder Cup and
world rankings. As we are halfway through the cycle of majors, I thought I
would do a quick progress report.
Masters
Now, my choice for this event was, I concede, somewhat
guided by the 2011 event. My choice had performed incredibly well that year,
not just at Augusta, and I had every reason to believe he could go one better
and don the green jacket. The pre-tournament hype was all about the usual
suspects currently residing in the upper echelons of the OWGR but, as so often
in Masters-past, Messrs Donald, McIlroy, Westwood et al flattered to deceive.
The stage, therefore, was available for a relatively unheralded challenger to
step forward and claim the prize.
Unfortunately, for my predictions rather than for him,
Bubba Watson emerged victorious whilst my selection, Jason Day, foundered early
and, due to an unfortunate ankle injury (didn't even make the weekend. Isn't it
amazing how these afflictions strike golfers down after they've posted a
shocking score? Such a cynic, I am.
US Open
On to sunny/misty San Francisco, the Olympic Club and the
US Open last week. My choice this time around was less left-field than for the
Masters although, to triumph, he would have had to overturn many years of
historical precedence and his own sporadic form of recent weeks. Not since
Curtis Strange in 89/90 has anyone defended a US Open title but, at the back
end of 2011, there was every reason to believe that Rory McIlroy would maintain
his ability to control the golf ball and mount a serious challenge for the win.
Clearly, the lack of regular tournament golf for the
young Ulsterman has had a detrimental effect on his form, his missed cut at
Olympic his third in four events. After the first two rounds, some chap called
Woods was lurking near the summit of a leaderboard notable for the dearth of
red scores. Come Sunday's final round and much of the focus was on Jim Furyk
and Graeme McDowell in the final pairing, plus half an eye on Lee Westwood a
handful of shots further back. In the end, the savage semi-rough killed off
their challenges, leaving Webb Simpson to triumph by a shot.
So there we are - two majors down and I am, some might
say unsurprisingly, 0 for 2. Onwards and upwards - next up is the grandaddy of
the majors, The Open at Royal Lytham. If the Met Office, that bastion of
meteorological excellence, is to be believed, the weather could be pretty ropey
so I'm hoping that my selection, Rickie Fowler, can maintain his solid start to
the year and win the Claret Jug.
Following that is the US PGA. As long as Dustin Johnson
remembers jet skis are better picked up by other people, I hope he can get back
to full fitness and be involved at the end of that week.
Then there's the Ryder Cup - I was (like so many this
side of the pond) bordering on the dismissive of the US challenge for the Cup
but, I have to admit, the rankings have a distinctly red hue of late. Whether
that stays that way between now and the end of September, or whether it
translates into points are other questions entirely. With rookies like Jason Dufner & Webb
Simpson likely to be involved, I still believe the experienced heads from
Europe will still take home the bacon.
Finally, I nailed my colours firmly to the McIlroy Mast in terms of who would end the year top of the world rankings. Despite this week's holder of the #1 spot, Luke Donald, coming right back into form with victory at the BMW PGA at Wentworth (shocking US Open display notwithstanding), I do still believe that he will find it increasingly difficult to maintain the stellar results he produced in 2010 (which he is defending this year) and, with McIlroy's demonstrable form of recovering from poor streaks, I see him ending the year top of the pile.
Only time will tell if I have a future as a clairvoyant.
I am the Part-Time Golfer
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